World's tallest water slide built in Texas

By Kolten Parker, San Antonio Express-News

Updated 1:00 pm, Wednesday, January 22, 2014

SAN ANTONIO — Everything is bigger in Texas, even the exports.

The Verruckt, soon-to-be the world's tallest water slide at a towering 17 stories, or nearly 170 feet tall, was built in New Braunfels and will open later this year at Schlitterbahn Water Park in Kansas City, Kan.

Thrill-seeking visitors, after climbing 264 stairs, will plummet down the monster four-at-a-time in a raft and will reach a speed of about 65 mph, according to Schlitterbahn Waterparks and Resort's website.

The Verruckt was constructed from railroad tanks that were cut and welded to form a slide. The sections were then shipped to Kansas to be put together.

The 601-foot-long fiberglass slide, that includes an uphill section, will be featured in a documentary by the Travel Channel.